Extra Hand-Held Field and Production Programmer for Microchip PIC12F, PIC16F and PIC18F microcontrollers

The ultimate programming tool for PIC12F, PIC16F and PIC18F microcontrollers, in the field or on the production line — so easy a child can use it! Just load it once and then program target devices again and again.

You need just one starter kit for your PC, then you can load as many programmers as you require.

Simply connect your starter kit dongle to your USB port and run the master software. Select your code file, device type and settings, and now you can load the programmer with your program or test code in seconds. As the programmer is battery powered during load, you don't need any power supplies or cabling; just plug a programmer into the lead supplied. Once a programmer is loaded, it is completely portable and can be used where you need it — not where your PC is located.

The Handheld Programmer features one-button operation, auto sensing of target, auto verification and an error indicator. In most cases, the target circuit does not need to be powered, and low-voltage targets are supported. It can power the target circuit at 3.3V or 5V. The programmer has 256KB of memory and is powered by a common 9V PP3 battery, or by an external power supply. If your target circuit requires more than 150 mA current, it must be self-powered or the programmer must be powered by an external supply.

When it's time to program new code into your devices, simply reconnect the handheld programmer to the PC, load the new code into it, and you're ready to go again.

Hand-Held PIC Programmer Features

PIC Hand-held programmer uses 9V PP3 battery or power supply

Single-button operation

Reload new programs as often as you need

Holds program code indefinitely

Low or High Voltage programming

10-way DIL and 6 x 1-way flying lead connectors included

Program/Verify Flash or EEPROM or both

Program and verify Configuration Bytes and User ID

Existing EEPROM Data can be preserved

Powers target device (up to 150mA) at 3.3V or 5V

For families that are low-voltage only (e.g. PIC18FxxJ and some PIC18FxxK), programmer uses 3.3V for them

PIC16F627A, PIC16F628A, PIC16F648A (HVP only if Reset pin is not reprogrammed as I/O)

PIC16F631, PIC16F636, PIC16F639

PIC16F677

PIC16F68x, PIC16F690

PIC16F7x

PIC16F7x7

PIC16F72x

PIC16F785

PIC16F818

PIC16F819

PIC16F8x

PIC16F8xA

PIC16F87x

PIC16F873A

PIC16F874A

PIC16F876A

PIC16F877A

PIC16F88x

PIC16F91x

PIC16F15xx

PIC16F193x

PIC16F182x

Note: Not all devices have LVP mode.

Users of the old, solid yellow programmers take note: PIC16F72x, PIC16F182x and PIC16F193x need 9V VPP. The old solid yellow programmers (i.e. PIC-HH0010 / PIC-HH0020) only could supply 12.5V VPP, thus can not be used to program those devices. You must have the current yellow & black programmer (i.e. PIC-HH0110 / PIC-HH0120) to program them.

Not supported

PIC16F630

PIC16F676

PIC16F505

PIC16F5x will be supported in a future update

Free updates are available for new device support. This list is current as of 4 January 2013.

Power Supply

If you do not want to use the internal 9V PP3 battery, the power supply required is 9V with a 5.0/2.1mm Barrel connector. See below for optional universal power supplies that can be used in most countries.

Designing the Handheld Programmer into Your Product

To use a handheld programmer to configure your product in the field or on the production line, you need to have a 10-way box connector or just use the 6-way flying lead adapter. The header has 0.1-inch (2.54mm) pin spacing. The GND pins marked with an asterisk (*) must be connected to target ground. Either or both of the other GND pins also must be connected to target ground. VDD must be connected to the target circuit's Vdd. The PGM pin is only used for LVP mode.

To use this Handheld Programmer, you need the PIC Hand-Held Programmer Starter Kit. The starter kit includes one of these programmers. This order page is for owners of a starter kit who wish to purchase additional programmers.